The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers programs to support Americans with disabling conditions, including those living with mental disorders. If you have a mental illness preventing you from working, you might be eligible to receive disability benefits through the SSA.
The dedicated attorneys at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can help you through the process of applying for disability benefits due to mental impairments. To learn more about how much the SSA pays for mental disorders, contact our Oklahoma mental health Social Security disability lawyers for a free case review.
How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay?
The amount of Social Security disability payments you receive depends on several factors, including which program you qualify for, the severity of your disability, which state you live in, and your other sources of income.
The SSA administers two different programs that provide benefits to those with physical and mental disabilities:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – This program provides benefits to people with disabilities that prevent them from working for at least 12 months. You must have previously worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain period. The monthly SSDI benefit amount is based on your past earnings and how many years you worked. Your SSDI payments may be reduced if you receive other income, such as workers’ compensation for the same time period.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Individuals with limited income and a disability preventing them from working for a sustained period may be eligible for SSI benefits. The SSI benefit amount is set annually by the federal government. Oklahoma also provides supplemental SSI benefits. Federal SSI payments may be reduced if you receive other income, such as wages, veterans benefits, or income from a trust or investment.
Who Qualifies for Social Security Mental Disability?
To qualify for Social Security disability benefits for a mental illness or disorder, you must have a condition that falls within one of the following 11 categories outlined in the SSA Blue Book:
- Neurocognitive disorders
- Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
- Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders
- Intellectual disorders
- Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Somatic-symptom and related disorders
- Personality and impulse-control disorders
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Eating disorders
- Trauma- and stressor-related disorders
Within each category, you must meet criteria unique to that disorder to qualify for Social Security benefits. The conditions for eligibility are a combination of medical, functional, and “serious and persistent” criteria.
How to Get Social Security Disability for Mental Disorders
Applying for Social Security disability benefits for a mental disorder can be a long, complicated process. It is crucial to work with an experienced attorney and a medical professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, who is familiar with your condition.
When you apply for mental health benefits, the SSA will review your medical record to confirm that you have a qualifying mental disorder or impairment. Various criteria must be met and the rules can be complex. You should consult your doctor to ensure you have a qualifying condition.
The SSA will require evidence to evaluate whether your mental disorder meets the criteria for eligibility. They will review evidence from your physician, psychologist, and other medical sources, which may include:
- Your reported symptoms and medical records
- Results of physical or mental examinations, clinical interviews, psychiatric or psychological rating scales, and other clinical findings
- Psychological testing, imaging, or other lab results
- The type, dosage, and effects of medication prescribed to you
- The type, duration, and benefits of therapy
- Side effects from medication that impair your functioning
- Medical observations during examinations and therapy
The SSA will ask you about your mental illness and will sometimes consider evidence from people who know you, such as family, caregivers, friends, case managers, social workers, clergy, or other community support workers. They will also examine evidence from school, vocational training, work, and work-related programs.
Your attorney can help you gather this information and complete the application, so it is as thorough as possible. In fact, your attorney can usually file your application with SSA.
SSA will then send your application to the state-level agency called Disability Determination Services (DDS). An adjudicative team at DDS, usually consisting of a medical or psychological consultant and a disability examiner, will review your application and make an initial determination about your disability.
Once the initial decision is rendered, your case returns to your local SSA field office. If you are determined to have a disability, the field office will begin the process of paying mental health disability benefits. But if the SSA determines that you do not meet the criteria for a disability, you may need to appeal the determination.
If you are again denied Social Security benefits, you can appeal your case to an administrative law judge. Your attorney can help you prepare for your appeal hearing. Based on this hearing and any additional evidence submitted or gathered, the judge will make a final determination.
Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney in Oklahoma City Today
If you cannot work due to a mental illness or disorder, you don’t need to feel hopeless. Help is available to you. Contact the mental health Social Security Disability attorneys at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons to discuss your eligibility for mental health benefits.
For over 30 years, we have advocated for those living with mental disorders in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. We could help you navigate the complex process of applying for benefits or appealing if your claim was denied. Reach out to us today for a free case review.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
